Basford Union
Burton Joyce Tuesday evening Novr 7 48
Gentlemen
I wish to inform you of a case of great urgency – A sister in Law of mine who has been subject to fits for the last twelve years which has taken her faculties – so much as to render her incapable of taking care of herself – and has had several narrow escapes of her life on the Nottingham & Lincoln Railway which passes through our village.
The inspector belonging to the Midland Counties Railway Company availed upon us to day to inform us that we must get her removed to a place of safety – or my mother must take up the consequence.
I should take it a great favour if you would write by return of Post to let me know in what way to proceed whether to apply to a Magistrate for an order to get her into the Asylum – or whether there is a portion of the Union Workhouse set apart for those that cannot take care of themselves – N.B. she has out door relief at the present time.
I am Gentlemen
your [obdnt Servt]
Thomas Adkin
Questions to consider
- Who else in the community is mentioned? What might this suggest?
- Are there any similarities in the sources you are studying?
- Do we think the comments in this would be typical? How might we be able to tell this?
- What does this suggest about the connections to the wider community for the poor?